Safety gate

Claim 2

A safety gate for closing the opening in the guard rail of A walkway for a ladder, stairwell, or the like comprising a gate member, means for mounting the gate member for pivotal movement between a first position extending across such opening and a second position to allow passage therethrough, stop means for allowing the gate member to pivot in only one direction from the first position, said stop means including a first stop member mounted on one of the gate member and the gate member mounting means and a second stop member mounted on the other one of the gate member and the gate member mounting means to engage the stop means and hold the gate in the first position, said second stop means being movable sufficiently to allow the first position to be adjusted relative to the mounting means through an angle of about ninety degrees as required by the location of the opening, and resilient means urging the gate member toward the first position to maintain the gate member in the first position closing the opening to prevent passage therethrough in one direction when the gate member is not forceably held in the second position.

Claim 3

The gate of claim 1 in which the first stop member is mounted on and fixed relative to the gate member mounting means and the second stop member is mounted on and movable relative to the gate member.

Claim 4

A safety gate for closing the opening in the guard rail of a walkway for a ladder, stairwell, or the like comprising a gate member, means for mounting the gate member for pivotal movement between a first position extending across such opening and a second position to allow passage therethrough, stop means for allowing the gate member to pivot in only one direction from the first position, said stop means including a first stop member fixed relative to the gate member mounting means and having two perpendicular surfaces that intersect along a line that is parallel to the pivotal axis around which the gate member pivots, a second stop member, means mounting the second stop member on the gate member to engage the fixed stop member when the gate member is in its first position, said second member being movable relative to the gate member along a line spaced from and parallel to the gate member to adjust the angle the gate member makes with the mounting means, the second member mounting means being positioned for the second member to move out of engagement with one of said two surfaces and into engagement with the other as the first position of the gate member is adjusted approximately ninety degrees relative to the mounting means, and resilient means urging the gate member toward the first position to maintain the gate member in the first position closing the opening to prevent passage therethrough in one direction when the gate member is not forceably held in the second position.

Claim 5

A safety gate for closing the opening in the guard rail of a walkway for a ladder, stairwell, or the like comprising a gate member, means for mounting the gate member for pivotal movement between a first position extending across such opening and a second position to allow passage therethrough, stop means for allowing the gate member to pivot in only one direction from the first position, said stop means including a first stop member fixed relative to the gate member mounting means and having two perpendicular surfaces that intersect along a line that is parallel to the pivotal axis around which the gate member pivots, a second stop member, means mounting the second stop member on the gate member to engage the fixed stop member when the gate member is in its first position, said second member being movable relative to the gate member along a line spaced from and parallel to the gate member to adjust the angle the gate member makes with the mounting means, the second member mounting means being positioned for the second member to move out of engagement with one of said two surfaces and into engagement with the other as the first position of the gate member is adjusted approximately ninety degrees relative to the mounting means, and resilient means urging the gate member toward the first position to maintain the gate member in the first position closing the opening to prevent passage therethrough in one direction when the gate member is not forceably held in the second position.

Claim 6

The gate of claim 3 in which the second stop member is a threaded rod having a convex surface on the end that engages the first stop member.

Claim 7

A gate for closing an opening in the guard rail of a walkway for ladders, stairs, or the like comprising a gate member, means for mounting the gate member for pivotal movement between a position closing such opening and a position permitting free passage.

Claim 8

A gate for closing an opening in the guard rail of a walkway for ladders, stairs, or the like comprising a gate member, means for mounting the gate member for pivotal movement between a position closing such opening and a position permitting free passage.

Claim 9

The gate of claim 5 in which the end of the stop member that engages the plate is convex.

Claim 10

The gate of claim 5 in which the stop member is threaded and supported on the gate member in a tapped opening so that rotation of the member will adjust the position of the gate member relative to the mounting means in the closed position.