Portable safety barrier

Abstract

A portable safety barrier that can be set up across a drive way or other path to provide a visible and physical indication of a safe zone boundary particularly for children. Netting attached to a core or reel disposed in a housing forms the barrier. The netting is free to deploy from the housing for attachment to a remote post; both the housing and post including an auger for anchoring the housing and post to ground. The housing has a rewind system to reel in the netting which includes a gear train for mechanical advantage. The rewind system operates manually and with out a bias assist. A selectively operated stop cooperates with the rewind system to tighten the netting after deployment and keeps the netting taut.

1 . A portable safety barrier including an extendable barrier netting comprising: 
 a) a frame disposable in an upright position;    b) a net reel rotatably mounted to the frame;    c) an elongate net wound on the net reel, the net having one end fixed to the net reel and an opposite end;    d) a bias-free drive system carried by the frame and operably connected to the net reel, the drive system allowing free unbiased rotation of the net reel in an unwind direction for extending the netting from the frame to a deployed position and the drive system being manually operated to rotate the net reel in a winding direction for rewinding the netting;    e) the drive system including a one-way stop selectively engaged to prevent rotation of the net reel in the unwind direction; and    f) a support post paired with the frame movable to a location spaced from the frame and attachable to the net opposite end.    
   
   
       2 . The safety barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an auger connected to a lower end of the frame for anchoring the frame to ground.  
   
   
       3 . The safety barrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a holder having an integral auger and a receiving recess, the recess sized to releasably retain a portion of the frame.  
   
   
       4 . The safety barrier as in  claim 1 , wherein the frame is tubular and has a given length, and the net reel is disposed within and extends generally the length of the tube, the net reel including a drive shaft journaled adjacent an end of the drive shaft to the frame.  
   
   
       5 . The safety barrier as in  claim 4 , further comprising a shroud disposed around the drive shaft, the shroud defining a winding core of the net reel.  
   
   
       6 . The safety barrier as in  claim 5  including wafer bearings disposed between the axel and shroud maintaining the shroud radially spaced from the axel.  
   
   
       7 . A safety barrier as in  claim 6  wherein the wafer bearings bear against the inner surface of the tubular frame to maintain the shroud radially disposed within the tubular frame.  
   
   
       8 . The safety barrier of  claim 4 , wherein the drive system is located at one end of the frame and includes a gear train operatively connected between one end of the drive shaft and a manually operated handle.  
   
   
       9 . The safety barrier of  claim 8 , wherein the gear train is within the tubular frame and the manually operated handle is external to the frame.  
   
   
       10 . A safety barrier as in  claim 8 , wherein the gear train is a planetary gear system.  
   
   
       11 . A safety barrier as in  claim 8  wherein the drive system includes an opening for receiving the manually operated handle.  
   
   
       12 . A safety barrier as in  claim 8  wherein the manually operated handle is a fold away handle connected to the gear train.  
   
   
       13 . A safety barrier as in  claim 1  including a stiffening member associated with the net for maintaining the generally vertical in the deployed position.  
   
   
       14 . A safety barrier as in  claim 1  wherein the one-way stop comprises a ratchet connected to the net reel and a stop member extending through the frame to selectively engage the ratchet wheel.  
   
   
       15 . A safety barrier as in  claim 4  wherein the tubular frame has an elongated slot providing a passage for the net through the frame and onto the net reel and guide clips at each end of the slot in contact with the net passing through the slot.