Illuminated threshold barrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245501-A1
Application number	US-201615053326-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A threshold barrier assembly includes an illumination system to facilitate visibility of the barrier assembly while mounted in a doorway or on a staircase, thereby reducing the risk of a trip hazard. The barrier assembly can include a frame comprising a pair of upright frame members connected to a lower cross member, and a barrier door comprising an upper horizontal cross member pivotally connected to the frame, a lower horizontal cross member, and vertical members connected between the upper and lower horizontal cross members. At least one illumination element is installed in at least one of the lower cross member, the upper horizontal cross member, or one or more of the vertical members. An integrated controller can control illumination of the illumination system based on a predetermined sequence, or detected environmental or operating conditions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a barrier frame having at least one upright frame member connected to a lower cross member; a barrier door having an upper horizontal cross member, a lower horizontal cross member, and vertical members disposed between the upper horizontal cross member and the lower horizontal cross member, wherein the barrier door is pivotally connected to one of the at least one upright frame member; at least one illumination source; and a controller configured to control illumination of the illumination source.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one illumination source is disposed in the lower cross member.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one illumination source comprises at least a first elongated illumination element disposed on a front-facing surface of the lower cross member and a second elongated illumination element disposed on a rear-facing surface of the lower cross member.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one illumination source comprises an elongated illumination element disposed on an upward-facing surface of the lower cross member.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the elongated illumination element comprises a light tube that emits a substantially radial illumination patterns.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one illumination source is disposed on a downward-facing surface of the upper horizontal cross member.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the downward-facing surface comprises apertures disposed between adjacent vertical members of the vertical members, and the at least one illumination source comprises an elongated illumination element disposed within the upper horizontal cross member, the elongated illumination element comprising bulb elements that project through the apertures.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the least one illumination source is disposed on at least one of the vertical members.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change at least one of an illumination color or an illumination pattern of the at least one illumination source in response to detection of a defined condition.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the defined condition comprises at least one of presence of an object within a proximity of the barrier frame, a determination that an amount of ambient light within the proximity of the barrier frame satisfies a criterion, or a determination that a current time corresponds to a defined time range.

11 . A barrier, comprising:
a lower cross member; an upright frame member connected to a first end of the lower cross member; an upper horizontal cross member pivotally attached to the upright frame member; a set of vertical members attached to a downward-facing surface of the upper horizontal cross member; a lower horizontal cross member attached to bottom ends of the set of vertical members; at least one illumination source; and a controller configured to control illumination of the illumination source.

12 . The barrier of claim 11 , wherein the at least one illumination source is installed in the lower cross member.

13 . The barrier of claim 12 , wherein the at least one illumination source comprises at least a first elongated illumination that faces through an aperture on a front-facing surface of the lower cross member and a second elongated illumination element that faces through a second aperture on a rear-facing surface of the lower cross member.

14 . The barrier of claim 12 , wherein the at least one illumination source comprises an elongated illumination element located on an upward-facing surface of the lower cross member.

15 . The barrier of claim 14 , wherein the elongated illumination element comprises a light pipe configured to emit light in a substantially radial pattern.

16 . The barrier of claim 11 , wherein a downward-facing surface of the upper horizontal cross member comprises apertures, and the at least one illumination source comprises an elongated illumination element located in the upper horizontal cross member and oriented to emit light downward through the apertures.

17 . The barrier of claim 11 , wherein the at least one illumination source comprises at least one elongated illumination element located on at least one of the set of vertical members.

18 . The barrier of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of an illumination color or an illumination pattern of the at least one illumination source in accordance with a defined condition detected by at least one of a motion sensor or a photo sensor.

19 . A method of manufacturing a safety barrier, comprising:
connecting an upright frame member to a first end of a lower cross member; pivotally attaching an upper horizontal cross member to the upright frame member; connecting a set of vertical members to a downward-facing surface of the upper horizontal cross member; connecting a lower horizontal cross member to bottom ends of the set of vertical members; installing at least one illumination source in at least one of the lower cross member, the upper horizontal cross member, or one or more of the set of vertical members; and installing a control circuit in a housing attached to at least one of the lower cross member or the upright frame member, the control circuit configured to control illumination of the at least one illumination source.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising installing at least one of a motion sensor or a photo sensor,
wherein the installing the control circuit comprises installing a controller configured to alter at least one of an illumination color or an illumination pattern of the at least one illumination source in response to detection of a defined condition by at least one of the motion sensor or the photo sensor.

Assignees

• Munchkin Inc

Inventors

• Dunn Steven Bryan
• Beisinger Quinn Michael
• Birkert Thomas

Classifications

• E06B2009/002

  Safety guards or gates · CPC title

• E06B9/02

  Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary (louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26) · CPC title

• F21V23/0471

  the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person · CPC title

• F21V23/0464

  the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors · CPC title

• F21V33/0004 Primary

  Personal or domestic articles · CPC title