Patent attributes
A safety gate assembly includes a frame which may be secured across a door opening, stairway or the like and comprises a base and two upstanding limbs and a gate. One side of the gate is connected by one or more pivotal connections to the one limb of the frame to permit pivotable movement of the gate with respect to the frame about a pivotal axis. The other side of the gate carries a latch member, which cooperates with a latch connected to the other limb of the frame. The latch defines a locked position, in which pivotable movement of the gate is prevented. The pivotal connection is constructed to permit linear movement of the gate relative to the frame in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis. The latch member cooperates with a biasing spring arranged to urge the latch member in the direction away from the said one side of the gate. The latch defines a recess, which is adapted to accommodate a portion of the latch member and laterally adjacent which is an entry ramp and extending vertically into which is an exit ramp. The entry ramp is constructed and arranged so that when the gate is pivoted into the closed position the latch member engages the entry ramp and is moved progressively against the force of the biasing means in the direction towards the said one side of the gate until the latch member is in registry with the recess and the biasing means then urges the latch member into the recess. Further pivotal movement of the gate is then prevented and the gate is in a locked position. The exit ramp is constructed and arranged so that when the gate is moved linearly upwardly, the latch member engages the exit ramp and is moved by it progressively in the direction towards the said one side of the gate until it is out of the recess, whereafter the gate may be moved pivotally into the open position.
