Free standing sliding panel footed barrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719293-B1
Application number	US-201615043617-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 13, 2012
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A free standing barrier includes two panels that slide parallel to each other. Each of the panels includes a lower outer corner portion on which is mounted a foot. The feet, in combination with each other, hold the barrier upright and make the barrier free standing. One foot engages one sliding panel and the other foot engages the other sliding panel. Each of the feet includes an outward extension that works as a stop against, for example, a doorjamb, to prevent the barrier from being pushed, such as by a dog, through the opening that the barrier is intended to close off.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A free standing sliding panel footed barrier, comprising:
a) first and second panels engaged to each other and sliding past each other in parallel fashion, wherein each of the first and second panels includes an outside end, wherein each of the outside ends slide toward each other to decrease a distance spanned by the barrier, wherein each of the outside ends slide away from each other to increase a distance spanned by the barrier, wherein the barrier includes a front side, and wherein the barrier includes a back side;
b) a first foot engaging the first panel for supporting the first panel relative to a floor, wherein the first foot includes a front portion that extends to the front side of the barrier and a back portion that extends to the back side of the barrier;
c) a second foot engaging the second panel for supporting the second panel relative to said floor, wherein the second foot includes a front portion that extends to the front side of the barrier and a back portion that extends to the back side of the barrier;
d) wherein the first panel lies generally in a plane, wherein the first foot includes a middle portion between the front and back portions of the first foot, wherein the middle portion includes an extension that protrudes outwardly of the front and back portions of the first foot and that lies generally in the plane of the first panel whereby said extension works as a stop for preventing the barrier from being pushed through a passageway;
e) wherein the extension protrudes at a right angle to the front and back portions of the first foot; and
f) wherein the extension includes a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face, wherein the front face extends laterally and vertically, wherein the rear face extends laterally and vertically, wherein the bottom face is disposed between the front and rear faces, wherein the bottom face is adjacent to and spaced from a surface on which the free standing sliding panel footed barrier is standing, wherein said bottom face is adjacent to said first foot and to said surface at a location generally in the plane of the first panel.

2. The free standing sliding footed panel barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a lower outside vertically extending portion having a vertical edge, a front face and a back face, and wherein the first foot includes a vertically extending slot for receiving the lower outside vertically extending portion and confronting the vertical edge, front face and back face of the lower outside vertically extending portion.

3. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a lower outside horizontally extending portion having a horizontal edge, a front face and a back face, and wherein the first foot includes a horizontally extending slot for receiving the lower outside horizontally extending portion and confronting the horizontal edge, front face and back face of the lower outside horizontally extending portion.

4. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a lower outside corner portion having a vertical edge and a horizontal edge, and wherein the first foot includes a slot for receiving the lower outside corner portion.

5. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein said front portion of said first foot includes a proximal end, an outer side, an inner side, a top side, underside and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is proximate the back portion of the first foot and the distal end is distal from the back portion of the first foot, wherein said outer and inner sides taper toward each other and toward the distal end, and wherein said top side tapers toward the underside and toward the distal end such that space occupied by the first foot is minimized so as to maximize safety for people walking nearby.

6. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the first foot includes a length, wherein the back portion of the first foot includes a length, wherein each of the lengths includes an axis, and wherein the axes of the lengths are aligned with each other.

7. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first foot includes a middle portion between the front and back portions of the first foot, and wherein the middle portion includes a slot that receives a section of the first panel.

8. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first foot includes a middle portion between the front and back portions of the first foot, and wherein the middle portion includes a section that rises to an altitude higher than uppermost sections of the front and back portions of the first foot.

9. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first foot includes a middle portion between the front and back portions of the first foot, wherein the middle section includes a front side proximate the front portion of the first foot and a back side proximate the back portion of the first foot, and wherein the front and back sides of the middle section taper toward each other and run upwardly.

10. The free standing sliding panel footed barrier of claim 1 , wherein the first foot is engaged to the first panel by a first pin connector running horizontally and by a second pin connector running vertically.

11. The free standing footed barrier apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the first foot includes a front floor abutting surface that rests upon the floor, wherein the back portion of the first foot includes a back floor abutting surface that rests upon the floor, the front and back floor abutting surfaces defining a line, and the bottom face of the extension being at a greater elevation than said line such that the bottom face of the extension is spaced from the floor.

12. A free standing sliding panel footed barrier, comprising:
a) first and second panels engaged to each other and sliding past each other in parallel fashion, wherein each of the first and second panels includes an outside end, wherein each of the outside ends slide toward each other to decrease a distance spanned by the barrier, wherein each of the outside ends slide away from each other to increase a distance spanned by the barrier, wherein the barrier includes a front side, and wherein the barrier includes a back side;
b) a first foot engaging the outside end of the first panel for supporting the first panel relative to a floor, wherein the first foot includes a front portion that extends to the front side of the barrier and a back portion that extends to the back side of the barrier;
c) a second foot engaging the outside end of the second panel for supporting the second panel relative to said floor, wherein the second foot includes a front portion that extends to the front side of the barrier and a back portion that extends to the back side of the barrier;
d) wherein the first foot includes a first extension protruding outwardly of and at a right angle to the front and back portions of the first foot and wherein the second foot includes a second extension protruding outwardly of and at a right angle to the front and back portions of the second foot, whereby said first and second extensions work as stops for preventing the barrier from being pushed through a passageway;
e) wherein the first foot comprises outer and inner first half sections that are engaged to each other, wherein an inner face of the outer first half section and an outer face of the inner first half section are generally defined by a longitudinally and vertically running plane;
f) wherein the outer first half section and the

Assignees

• Carlson Pet Products Inc

Inventors

• Flannery Mark A
• Million Porter R

Classifications

• E06B9/02 Primary

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

• E04B2/7407

  assembled using frames with infill panels or coverings only; made-up of panels and a support structure incorporating posts (E04B2/78 and E04B2/80 take precedence) · CPC title

• E04B2/7425

  Details of connection of panels (E04B2/7427 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04B2/827

  Partitions constituted of sliding panels · CPC title

• E06B2009/002

  Safety guards or gates · CPC title