Safety Gate and Extension, Retraction, and Lock Mechanism

摘要

Provided is a retractable safety gate and locking mechanism for a retractable safety gate that employs a spline lock and spline geometry for extending and locking the gate in an immovable position, and an air check valve and compression spring as a time delay for retracting the gate.

主权项

1. A releasable locking mechanism for a retractable safety gate composed of a flexible barrier sheet windably disposed about a substantially hollow spool and capable of extension from and retraction onto the spool, the locking mechanism comprising:
a winding spring operatively connected to one end of the spool to apply continuous torque on the spool; a cap sealingly mounted on the other end of the spool, the cap having interiorly disposed angular teeth and a lock release for allowing retraction of the gate; a cylindrical spline lock rotatably attached to the top of the spool and having an angularly toothed surface disposed and arranged to engage and disengage with the cap teeth to prevent rotation in one rotational direction and permit rotation in the opposite rotational direction, the spline lock being able to move axially in relation to the spool; and a spline geometry disposed within the spool and operatively connected with the spline lock to move the spline lock axially in relation to the spool. with the application of pressure on the lock release.