Impact resistant retractable safety barriers

Abstract

Impact resistant retractable safety barriers are disclosed. An apparatus includes a support member, a flexible elongate member to extend and retract through an opening in the support member, and a stop member including a region to interface with the flexible elongate member. The stop member engages with structure of the support member surrounding the opening to limit a distance with which the flexible elongate member extends through the opening. The stop member cooperates with the structure of the support member to maintain a gap between a surface of the region of the stop member and the structure of the support member. A width of the gap is equal to or greater than a thickness of the flexible elongate member.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first support to be spaced apart from a second support;   a retractable panel to be selectively moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the panel to span a distance between the first and second supports in the extended position, the panel to be supported by the first support and spaced apart from the second support when the panel is in the retracted position, the panel including:
 a load bearing material extending along a length of the panel, the load bearing material having a first thickness; and 
 a cord extending along the length of the panel, both the load bearing material and the cord to span the distance between the first and second supports when the panel is in the extended position, the cord having a second thickness, the second thickness greater than the first thickness. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cord is to extend along an upper edge of the panel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cord is a first cord, the panel including a second cord extending along a lower edge of the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second supports are to hold the panel taut so that the cord is to remain at a height of at least 39 inches from a walking surface when the cord is subject to a 200 pound force in a direction towards the walking surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second supports are to support the panel so that the cord is at a height between 39 inches and 45 inches from the walking surface below the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including:
 a stop supported by the panel; and   a bar supported by the panel, the stop and the bar to engage respective portions of the first and second supports when the panel is in the extended position, the panel to be held taut between the stop and the bar.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including a stay to extend across the panel in a direction transverse to the length of the panel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cord has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second thickness is at least twice the first thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cord has a thickness of at least 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including a roller to be supported by the first support, the roller having an axis of rotation to extend in a vertical direction, the panel to wrap around the roller when the panel is retracted, the cord to facilitate different wraps of the panel around the roller to be at substantially consistent heights along a vertical length of the roller. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the panel is to extend and retract through an opening in the first support as the panel moves between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bar;   a first strap to extend between a first support and a second support, a first end of the first strap to be supported by the first support, a second end of the first strap to be coupled to the bar;   a second strap to extend between the first support and the second support, a third end of the second strap to be supported by the first support, a fourth end of the second strap coupled to the bar, the bar to hold the second and fourth ends of the respective first and second straps adjacent the second support as the second support supports the bar; and   a cord to extend between the first support and the second support, the first and second straps having a first thickness, the cord having a second thickness, the second thickness greater than the first thickness.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cord is attached to the first strap. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a fabric mesh that spans a distance between the first and second straps. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric mesh has a third thickness, the first thickness greater than the third thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a third strap between the first and second straps. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a stay to span a distance between the first and second straps. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first support;   a retractable panel having a distal end that is supported by the first support when the panel is in a stored position, the panel to extend away from the first support to enable coupling of the distal end of the panel to a second support when the panel is in an extended position; and   a cord along an uppermost edge of the panel between the first and second supports when the panel is in the extended position, the cord thicker than load bearing straps of the panel, the load bearing straps to extend between the first and second supports along a length of the panel when the panel is in the extended position.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the cord is a keder cord. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the panel includes a fabric web extending between adjacent ones of the load bearing straps, the load bearing straps thicker than the fabric web.