Coiled wire mesh system for train platform pedestrian safety

Abstract

A barrier system for passenger safety prevents passengers from falling off a platform edge near a train track. The system includes a bottom mesh track, a top mesh track, a set of rollers, and a flexible metal mesh barrier. The bottom mesh track is positioned approximately parallel to a platform surface and extends approximately parallel to an edge representing a drop off between the platform surface and a track used by a train or subway. The top mesh track is attached to the ceiling of the platform and is approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track. A set of rollers are positioned within an interior of the bottom mesh track and the top mesh track. The set of rollers connect to the flexible metal mesh barrier allowing it to be slidably coupled so that it opens and closes along a length defined by the top and bottom mesh tracks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier system for passenger safety while on a platform for a train or similar transport, collectively referred to as a vehicle, said barrier system comprising:
 a first vertical support and a second vertical support, each extending from a platform surface to a ceiling of a platform, wherein said supports are configured in a position proximate to an edge of the platform and a drop off leading to a track used by the vehicle, wherein the platforms are configured such that between the platforms lies a door of the vehicle that intermittently stops at the platform for passenger ingress and egress;   a bottom mesh track configured to be positioned approximately parallel to the platform surface and extending substantially between the first and second vertical supports;   a top mesh track configured to be positioned approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track and at a distance greater than six feet above the bottom mesh track, wherein the top mesh track extends substantially between the first and second vertical supports; and   a mesh barrier section configured so that a topmost portion is connected to the top mesh track and a bottommost portion is connected to the bottom mesh track, wherein the mesh barrier section is configured so that when closed it substantially extends in a planar fashion between the first vertical support and the second vertical support blocking passenger movement between the supports, and is further configured so that when open the mesh barrier section permits unobtrusive passage for passengers across the region demarcated by the supports thereby permitting passage between the platform and the door of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the top mesh track is mounted to or within a ceiling of the platform, wherein the bottom mesh track is mounted to or within the platform surface. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a section actuator configured to be selectively activated to change a state of the mesh barrier section from an open to a closed state and from a closed to an open state.   
     
     
         4 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a magnetic lock having a locked and an unlocked state, wherein when in the locked state, the mesh barrier extension is physically restrained to being in the closed state until the magnetic lock is unlocked.   
     
     
         5 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh barrier section comprises:
 a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is positioned proximate to the first vertical support when the mesh barrier section is open, wherein the second is positioned proximate to the second vertical support when the mesh barrier section is open, wherein when the mesh barrier section is closed, the first and second sections are joined so as to make contact with each other along a vertical edge at approximately a midpoint between the first vertical support and the second vertical support.   
     
     
         6 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the bottom mesh track is approximately flush with the platform surface. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the top mesh track has a downwardly facing opening through which the topmost portion of the mesh barrier section connects, wherein the bottom mesh track has an upwardly facing opening through which the bottommost portion of the mesh barrier section connects. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of rollers positioned within an interior of the top mesh track and within an interior of the bottom mesh track configured to facilitate a sliding movement of the mesh barrier section along a pathway defined by the top mesh track and the bottom mesh track.   
     
     
         9 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh barrier section is configured to be under a substantial tension in the closed position such that is the mesh barrier section substantially planar between the first vertical support and the second vertical post, wherein planar includes straight and curved pathways as defined by contours created by the top mesh track and the bottom mesh track. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier mesh section is a flexible mesh fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier system of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible mesh fabric made from a steel material and is formed by interlocking individual strands of spiraled steel wire. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier system of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible mesh fabric has less than 60 percent open space and the individual strands of spiraled steel wire are at least 8 mm thick. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 At least one sensor configured to sense and convey data relating to a position of the mesh barrier section indicative of whether the mesh barrier section is in an open or closed state.   
     
     
         14 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 electronic equipment configured to be in communication with a computing system in the vehicle, wherein an authorized agent utilizing the computing system is able to selectively adjust the mesh barrier section from a closed to an open state.   
     
     
         15 . A barrier system for passenger safety while on a platform for a train, said barrier system comprising:
 a bottom mesh track configured to be positioned approximately parallel to a platform surface and extending approximately parallel to an edge representing a drop off between the platform surface and a track used by a train or subway, wherein the bottom mesh track comprises an upwardly facing opening, wherein a top portion of the bottom mesh track is approximately level with the platform surface;   a top mesh track configured to be attached to a ceiling of the platform and configured approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track, wherein the top mesh track has a downwardly facing opening;   a set of rollers positioned within an interior of the bottom mesh track and the top mesh track;   a flexible metal mesh barrier configured to extends between the openings of the top and bottom mesh tracks, wherein the set of rollers connect to the flexible metal mesh barrier allow it to be slidably coupled so that it opens and closes along a length defined by the top and bottom mesh tracks, wherein the flexible metal mesh barrier is a flexible mesh fabric made from a steel material and is formed by interlocking individual strands of spiraled steel wire, whereby opening the flexible metal mesh barrier permits passengers movement between the platform and the train or subway, wherein closing the flexible metal mesh barrier impedes passenger movement between the platform and the train or subway.   
     
     
         16 . The barrier system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a barrier actuator configured to be selectively activated to change a state of the flexible metal mesh barrier from an open to a closed state and from a closed to an open state.   
     
     
         17 . The barrier system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 electronic equipment configured to be in communication with a computing system in the train or subway, wherein an authorized agent utilizing the computing system is able to selectively adjust the flexible metal mesh barrier from a closed to an open state.   
     
     
         18 . The barrier system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a magnetic lock having a locked and an unlocked state, wherein when in the locked state, the flexible metal mesh barrier is physically restrained to being moved from a closed state.   
     
     
         19 . A barrier system for passenger safety while on a platform for a train, said barrier system comprising:
 a bottom mesh track configured to be positioned approximately parallel to a platform surface and extending approximately parallel to an edge representing a drop off between the platform surface and a track used by a train or subway, wherein the bottom mesh track comprises an upwardly facing opening, wherein a top portion of the bottom mesh track is approximately level with the platform surface;   a top mesh track configured to be attached to a ceiling of the platform and configured approximately parallel to the bottom mesh track, wherein the top mesh track has a downwardly facing opening;   a right-side mesh barrier; and   a left-side mesh barrier, wherein each of the right-side mesh barrier and the left-side mesh barrier are a flexible metal mesh barrier configured to extend between the openings of the top and bottom mesh tracks,   wherein the right-side mesh barrier is anchored on a right side and has an opposing end that slidably extends leftward, wherein the left-side mesh barrier is anchored on a left side and has an opposing end that slidably extends rightward, wherein when the right-side and left-side mesh barriers are fully extended the barriers interlock, resulting in a closed state that blocks passenger passage between the platform and the train or subway, wherein when the right-side and left-side mesh barriers are fully retracted the barriers do not impede passenger passage between the platform and the train or subway.   
     
     
         20 . The barrier system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a magnetic lock having a locked and an unlocked state, wherein when in the locked state, the right-side and left-side mesh barriers remain interlocked.