GB2192657A - Safety barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A child's safety barrier 10 includes upper and lower support members 16, 18, having laterally adjustable arm components 26, 38 engaging receptacles 32, 44 secured to door frame 14. Upper receptacles 32 are cup-shaped, while the lower arms have a groove (46, Fig. 4 not shown) into which pin (42) is a snap- fit. In an alternative embodiment (Figs. 5-10 not shown) with over- centre level tensioning, both receptacles are U-shaped cups. The receptacles prevent the barrier from slipping out of position when mounted in the doorway so that the safety barrier cannot be dislodged accidentally by a child. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety barrier assembly This invention relates to a safety barrier assembly, and in particular to a safety barrier assembly adapted to be releasably mounted between two vertical members defining an opening (for example in a doorway or passageway).

One form of safety barrier assembly known in the art for releasable mounting in a doorway or passageway comprises a safety barrier including an upper support member having an arm projecting from each end. These safety barriers are arranged to be secured in position by adjusting the arms laterally of the safety barrier so that locating members carried by the arms are pressed tightly against the doorframes or walls etc., thus acting to lodge the safety barrier securely in position in the opening.

It has been found, however, that unless the locating members are urged very tightly against the doorframe or walls, the safety barrier may be displaced without the exertion of undue pressure, for example that exerted by a small child, thus making the safety barrier ineffective.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantage.

Accordingly, the invention provides a safety barrier assembly adapted to be releasably mounted between two vertical members defining an opening, comprising a safety barrier and two receptacles, one receptacle arranged to be mounted on each vertical member, the safety barrier including an upper support member having an arm component projecting laterally from each end, each arm component comprising a locating member, and at least one arm component being adjustable laterally of the safety barrier to mount the safety barrier in the opening, the assembly being arranged so that each receptacle is adapted to receive one locating member when the safety barrier is mounted in the opening.

By means of the arrangement whereby the locating members are received within receptacles mounted on vertical members defining an opening, a more secure fixing of the safety barrier assembly in the opening is achieved, as the movement of the locating members is restrained by the walls of the receptacle. In particular, the receptacles prevent the sideways movement of the locating members, thus avoiding a displacement of the safety barrier out of the plane in which it was originally mounted in the opening. This serves to ensure that once the locating members are positioned within the receptacles, the safety barrier may not be removed from its mounted position without deliberately withdrawing the locating members from the receptacles.The provision of the receptacles also provides that the locating members do not have to be urged against the vertical members, eg doorframes or walls, so tightly as do safety barriers currently known in the art, in order for the safety barrier to be securely mounted in an opening.

The safety barrier may be formed from a wooden, metal or plastics frame which may be solid or hollow. The barrier for use in a safety barrier assembly according to the invention may include any suitable obstacle which prevents access through an opening.

One common form of barrier is a gate wherein upright bars extend between the upper support member and a lower support member.

Alternatively, the barrier may be in the form of solid sheet, for example a rigid metal sheet or a textile sheet. In another embodiment a mesh may provide the barrier. If desired, the textile sheet or mesh may be provided as a stretchable material in order to provide some flexibility. Any non-rigid material is mounted in a rigid frame so that an effective barrier is provided and also so that the frame can be mounted effectively in an opening. Preferably the barrier comprises an upper support member and a lower support member with a suitable barrier material extending between the two support members.

The upper support member is preferably in the form of a hollow metal tube and has an arm component projecting laterally from each end. At least one arm component is arranged to be adjusted laterally of the safety barrier in order to mount the safety barrier in an opening. Conveniently, this is achieved by providing that the end of the laterally adjustable arm component is slidable within the upper support member. Suitably this may be achieved by mounting the arm component so that it is received co-axially within the upper support member. Advantageously, the arm component may be mounted in a bush located in the hollow interior of the upper support member. Alternatively, the arm component may be provided in telescopic arrangement with the upper support member.The arm component may be adjusted laterally of the safety barrier by providing the laterally adjustable arm component with a screw-threaded exterior surface which is arranged to interengage with a screw wheel having a complementary screw-threaded internal surface. The screw-wheel is mounted coaxially on the arm component and is located adjacent the upper support member. The arm component may be extended laterally of the upper support member by operating the screw wheel whilst the screw wheel is in abutment with the upper support member, which thus urges the arm component outwardly of the upper support member. The arm component may be withdrawn into the upper support member by moving the screw wheel along the arm component, thus removing it from abutment with the upper support member, and pushing the arm component into the upper support member.Alternatively, one or both arm components may be adjusted laterally by means of an over-centre lever, which is simple to use and achieves a more effective clamping of the locating members in position in the opening. A non-laterally-adjustable arm component may be integral with the upper support member or it may be manufactured separately and may be secured to the upper support member in any convenient manner, for example one end portion of the arm component may be received within one end of the upper support member and secured therein in a known way.

In a preferred form of the invention, the locating member comprises a resilient pad, for example a rubber pad which may optionally be a suction pad. Advantageously, the locating member is situated on the end of each arm and suitably is of circular shape, preferably having a cross-section greater than that of the arm component. Alternatively, the locating member may be provided by an end portion of the arm component and is preferably of a complementary shape to that of the receptacle in which it is received. Suitably the end portion of the arm component may be slotted into the receptacle. In a further embodiment the locating member may be a pin projecting laterally of the arm component and is again preferably provided with a desfred shape corresponding to that of the receptacle in which it is received.

The receptacles for use in a safety barrier according to the invention may be of any size and shape suitable for restricting movement of the locating members. Conveniently, each receptacle is in the form of a container having a locating portion large enough to receive the locating member. The receptacle conveniently comprises a base portion arranged to be secured to a vertical member and a retaining portion capable of retaining the locating member in the receptacle. Preferably, the retaining portion comprises a flange portion extending from the base portion. The flange portion inhibits the sideways movement of a locating member in an opening when it is positioned in a receptacle.The flange portion may extend around the entire perimeter of the base portion, however, conveniently, the flange portion extends only partially around the perimeter of the base portion, thus leaving a gap through which the locating member may be slotted into the receptacle. Preferably a gap is provided at the top of each receptacle when mounted on the side frame so that the locating member can be introduced into the receptacle from above by a downwards vertical motion. In this case the locating member is aligned with the gap in the flange portion of the receptacle and the safety barrier is given a downwards vertical motion to position the locating member in the receptacle.Advantageously, each locating member has a complementary shape to that of the receptacle in which it is received and is arranged to be inserted into the receptacle vertically from above by aligning the locating member with a gap in the flange portion of the receptacle and then imparting a downwards vertical motion to the safety barrier. In one such example, the locating member is substantially spherical and is received within a receptacle having a complementary hollow interior. The locating member may be slotted into position in the receptacle vertically from above and may only be disengaged from the receptacle by an upwards vertical movement of the locating member out of the receptacle.

It may not be withdrawn in a direction laterally of the barrier as the substantially spherical locating member has a diameter too great to be removed from the receptacle in the lateral direction. If desired, however, each receptacle may comprise a cup-shaped member, preferably having a circular base portion arranged to lie against a vertical member.

Where the locating member is provided by an end portion of the arm component or a pin projecting laterally from the arm component, advantageously the retaining portion of the receptacle comprises a solid portion including a substantially V-shaped groove terminating in a recess adapted to retain the locating member in the receptacle. The preferred locating member is of circular section, accordingly the receptacle is preferably 'U'-shaped to receive the locating member in a close fit. The flange portion extending around the periphery of the base portion is also preferably ~U'-shaped.

The gap in the flange portion at the top of the receptacle when the receptacle is mounted on the vertical member, allows the locating member to be slotted into the receptacle vertically from above. In order to facilitate the introduction of the locating member into the receptacle, the receptacle may have a tapering entrance portion. The base portion of the receptacle is tapered in the direction of entry into the receptacle so that as the locating member enters the receptacle the thickness of the base portion increases. The locating members are thus caused to abut the base portion of the receptacles with an increased pressure and thus wedge the safety barrier in position in an opening, eg a doorway. The lateral adjustment of the arm components may partially be carried out before the locating members are inserted into the receptacles. After insertion they may finally be tightened up to securely mount the safety barrier in position. Alternatively, as many doorways etc, are of a standard width, it may only be necessary to make a slight adjustment to insert and withdraw the locating members from the receptacles, and thus the lateral adjustment to secure the safety barrier in the opening may be carried out after the locating members have been inserted into the receptacles.

In a preferred safety barrier assembly according to the invention the assembly further comprises two supplementary receptacles, one supplementary receptacle arranged to be mounted on each vertical member and the safety barrier further including a lower support member having a supplementary arm component projecting laterally from each end, each supplementary arm component comprising a supplementary locating member, the assembly being arranged so that each supplementary receptacle receives one supplementary locating member when the safety barrier is mounted in the opening.

Conveniently, the supplementary receptacles are located below the receptacles when mounted on the vertical members. Preferably at least one supplementary arm component is adjustable laterally of the safety barrier to mount the safety barrier in the opening. Conveniently the lower support member is in the form of a hollow metal tube. The laterally adjustable supplementary arm component or components may be connected with the lower support member in the same way as the arm components are connected with the upper support member (as hereinbefore described).

Similarly a non-laterally adjustable arm component may be integral with the lower support member or it may be manuufactured separately and secured to the lower support member in an appropriate manner.

The supplementary locating member may have the same form as the locating members hereinbefore described. Where a safety barrier comprises locating members and supplementary locating members they may be the same or different. In one embodiment according to the invention the locating members are provided by resilient pads and the supplementary locating members are provided by pins projecting laterally of the supplementary arm component. In another embodiment the locating members and the supplementary locating members are each provided by resilient pads.

The supplementary receptacles may be of the same form as the receptacles hereinabove described. In an especially preferred embodiment, the supplementary receptacles have a tapered entrance portion, whereas the receptacles have no such entrance portion. This allows the supplementary locating members to be introduced into the entrance portion of the supplementary receptacles, thus achieving alignment of the locating members of the upper support member with their corresponding receptacles. The whole safety barrier may thus be mounted in position in the opening by a simple pushing action to position the locating members and supplementary locating members correctly in the receptacles and supple mentary receptacles.This eliminates the necessity of aligning each arm and each supplementary arm with respect to its corresponding receptacle before mounting the safety barrier in the opening and is hence considerably more convenient to the user.

The receptacles and supplementary receptacles may be secured to a door frame or wall in any convenient manner, for example by adhesion with glue, by screw-fastening it to the frame or by mounting it on a member already secured to the frame. It is important to ensure that the receptacles cannot accidentally be removed from their position.

Optionally, in order to provide further aid in securely mounting the safety barrier in position, one or more leg members arranged to rest on the floor may extend from the barrier.

These leg members act to stabilise the safety barrier.

A safety barrier assembly according to the invention is illustrated by the following nonlimitative embodiments.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of a safety barrier assembly mounted in an opening defined by two vertical members; Figure 2 shows an enlarged section of a locating member received within a receptacle of the first embodiment; Figure 3 shows an enlarged vertical section of a supplementary locating member received within a supplementary receptacle of the first embodiment, the screw wheel positioned to allow the supplementary locating member to be withdrawn from the supplementary receptacle; Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV IV of Figure 3 Figure 5 shows a front view of a second embodiment of a safety barrier assembly mounted in an opening defined by two vertical members; Figure 6 shows a front view of the overcentre lever of the second embodiment in the open position;; Figure 7 shows an enlarged front view of a receptacle of the second embodiment; Figure 8 shows an enlarged vertical section of a locating member received within a receptacle of the second embodiment; Figure 9 shows an enlarged front view of a supplementary receptacle of the second embodiment; and Figure 10 shows an enlarged vertical section of a supplementary locating member received within a supplementary receptacle of the second embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the safety barrier assembly comprises a safety barrier 10, two receptacles 32 and two supplementary receptacles 44 and is arranged to be releasably mounted between two vertical members 14.

The receptacles 32, and supplementary receptacles 44, are first secured in appropriate positions in the opening. The positions of the receptacles and supplementary receptacles may be determined by the user by placing the safety barrier in the desired position in the opening and securely mounting the receptacles and the supplementary receptacles on the vertical members at the positions of the locating members and supplementary locating members respectively. If desired, a set of receptacles comprising two receptacles and two supplementary receptacles may be affixed to each of a number of vertical members, eg.

doorframes, thus allowing a single safety barrier to be moved from place to place. The safety barrier 10 comprises an upper support member 16, a lower support member 18, each made of tubular steel, and a barrier material 20 in the form of vertical metal bars extending between the upper and lower support members 16, 18. Leg members 22 extend from the lower support member 18 and are arranged to contact a floor surface 24 when the safety barrier 10 is mounted between the vertical members 14. The safety barrier 10 further comprises an arm 26 projecting from each end of the upper support member 16. Each arm 26 is slidably received within a bush 17 provided in each end of the upper support member 16, thus allowing each arm to be adjustable laterally of the safety barrier.Each arm 26 is provided with a screwthreaded surface which is arranged to co-operate with a screw wheel 28 encircling the arm and having a complementary screw-threaded internal surface. The screw wheels 28 lie adjacent the ends of the upper support member 16 so that they abut the corresponding bush 17. The arm 26 may be adjusted laterally of the safety barrier by turning the screw wheel when abutting the bush 17 #which allows the arm to advance outwardly from the upper support member 16. When it is desired to withdrawn the arm 26 into the upper support member 16, the screw wheel 28 is moved a short way along- the arm 26 to distance the screw wheel 28 from the bush 17 so that the arm may be pushed into the upper support member. A locating member provided by a resilient rubber pad 30 is provided at the end of each arm 26 (see Figure 2).Each pad 30 is arranged to be received within a receptacle in the form of a cup-shaped member 32. The cup-shaped member 32 is formed of plastics material and comprises a circular base 34 and a skirt 36 extending therefrom.-The cupshaped member 32 may be adhesively mounted on the door frame 14. The safety barrier 10 also comprises a supplementary arm 38 projecting from each end of the lower support member 18. Each supplementary arm 38 is slidably mounted in a bush 39 in the lower support member 18. Each supplementary arm 38 is provided with a screw-threaded surface which is arranged to co-operate with a supplementary screw wheel 40 encircling the supplementary arm and having a complementary screw-threaded internal surface.The supplementary screw wheels 40 are operated to adjust the supplementary arms 38 laterally of the safety barrier in the same way as the screw wheels 28 adjust the position of the arms 26. A metal pin 42 provides a supplementary locating member extending laterally of each supplementary arm 38 (see Figure 3).

Each pin 42 is arranged to be received within a supplementary receptacle 44 formed of a plastics material and including a substantially 'V'-shaped groove 46 terminating in a recess 48 adapted to hold the pin 42. The recess 48 holds the pin 42 in a 'snap-fit' arrangement.

The supplementary receptacles 44 may be adhesively mounted on the vertical members 14.

When desired to be mounted in an opening the safety barrier 10 is rested vertically on its leg members 22 between the vertical members 14. The arms 26 are extended laterally of the safety barrier 10 by a screwing action on the screw wheels 28 until each of the resilient pads 30 is received within the appropriate cup-shaped member 32 so that the end surfaces 31 of each pad abut the circular base 34 of the cup-shaped member 32. The supplementary arms 38 are also extended laterally by a screwing action on the supplementary screw wheels 40 until the pin 42 located at the end of each supplementary arm 38 extends as far as the supplementary receptacle 44. The pin 42 is directed by the walls of the V-shaped groove 46 of the supplementary receptacle into the recess 48.In this position the safety barrier 10 is safely secured between the vertical members 14 and may only be removed by adjusting the arms 26 and supplementary arms 38 laterally of the safety barrier 10 so that the pads 30 and pins 42 may be withdrawn from the cup-shaped members 32 and supplementary receptacles 44 respectively. This is achieved by screwing the screw wheels 28 and supplementary screw wheels 40 a short distance along the arm or supplementary arm to remove the wheel from abutment with its corresponding bush, and then pushing the arms 26 and supplementary arms 38 into the upper support member 16 and lower support member 18 respectively until the wheels 28,40 abut the bushes 17,39 respectively.

The second illustrative safety barrier assembly is shown in Figures 5 to 10. The safety barrier assembly comprises a safety barrier 50, two receptacles 52, and two supplementary receptacles 54, and is arranged to be releasably mounted between two vertical members 56. The receptacles 52 and supplementary receptacles 54 are mounted on the vertical members defining an opening in the same way as described with respect to the first embodiment. The safety barrier 50 comprises an upper support member 58, a lower support member 60, each made of tubular steel, and a barrier material 62 in the form of vertical metal bars extending between the up per and lower support members 58,60. The safety barrier 50 further comprises an arm 64,64' projecting from each end of the upper support member 58.The arm 64 is received in telescopic arrangement within the upper support member 58 and is adjustable laterally of the safety barrier by an over-centre lever 66 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The over-centre lever is pivotally mounted on the arm 64 by a pivot pin 68 and comprises a lever handle 70 having an arcuate slot 72. The slot 72 engages a pin 74 projecting from the upper support member 58. When the lever is depressed, as shown in Figure 5, the interaction between the slot 72 and the pin 74 causes the arm 64 to be extended laterally to a pre-set distance.

The lever handle 70 is of semi-circular section and is shaped to fit over the upper support member 58. When in the position shown in Figure 5, the arm 64 is maintained in its extended position and may only be released by raising the lever to the position as shown in Figure 6. The arm 64' is slidably received within a bush 59 provided in the end of the upper support member 58. The arm 64' is adjustable laterally of the barrier to ensure that the barrier material 62 is positioned in the centre of the opening. This avoids the possibility of a small child crawling through a gap between the barrier material 62 and a vertical member 56 as a result of the lateral extension of the arm 64. The arm 64' is provided with a screw-threaded surface which is arranged to cooperate with a screw wheel 78 encircling the arm and having a complementary screwthreaded internal surface.The screw wheel 78 lies adjacent the end of the upper support member 58 so that it abuts the bush 59 within which the arm 64' is slidably received.

The arm 64' may be extended laterally of the safety barrier by turning the screw wheel 78 which causes the arm to advance outwardly from the upper support member 58. When it is desired to withdraw the arm 64' into the upper support member 58, the screw wheel 78 is moved a short way along the arm 64' to distance the screw wheel 78 from the bush 59, so that the arm 64' can be pushed into the upper support member 58. A locating member provided by a resilient rubber pad 76 is provided at the end of each arm 64,64', each pad 76 being arranged to be received within a receptacle 52 (see Figures 7 and 8).

The receptacles 52 are 'U'-shaped and are formed of plastics material. They each comprise a base portion 80 and a flange 82 extending therefrom. The receptacles 52 may be secured to the door frame 56 by screws inserted through screw holes 84. The safety barrier also comprises supplementary arms 86 projecting from each end of the lower support member 60. Supplementary arms 86 are slidably received within a bush 87 provided at each end of the lower support member. Each arm supplementary 86 is provided with a screw-threaded surface which is arranged to co-operate with a supplementary screw wheel 88 encircling each arm and having a complementary screw-threaded internal surface.Supplementary arms 86 may be adjusted laterally of the safety barrier by turning the supplementary screw wheels 88 when abutting the bush 87 in which the supplementary arms 86 are received which causes the arm to advance outwardly from or to be withdrawn into the lower support member 60. The supplementary arms 86 are extended to the same extent as the arms 64,64' to achieve a correct centring of the barrier material 62 in the middle of the opening. The supplementary locating members are provided by resilient rubber pads 90 (see Figure 10). Each pad 90 is arranged to be received within a supplementary receptacle 54 comprising a base portion 94 and a flange 96 (see Figures 9 and 10). The supplementary receptacles 54 have a tapered entrance portion 98 and a locating portion 104.The entrance portion 98 has a wedge-shaped longitudinal section wherein the thickness of the base portion 94 increases in the direction of Jocating portion 104. The provision of a tapering entrance portion 98 allows the pads 90 to be inserted easily into the entrance portion 98, but as they are further introduced into the supplementary receptacle, the pads 90 pass along the entrance portion 98 and into the locating portion 104. In this position, the lower support member 60 is lodged securely between the vertical members 56. The supplementary receptacles 54 are secured to the vertical members 56 by screws inserted into screw holes 100.

When it is desired to mount the safety barrier in an opening, the pads 90 are aligned with the entrance portions 98 of the supplementary receptacles 54 and inserted into the supplementary receptacles between side elements 102 of flange 82. This action serves to align the pads 76 with the receptacles 52. A further downward movement of the safety barrier 50 causes the pads 76 to be pushed into and positioned within the receptacles 52 and the pads 90 to be pushed into and positioned within the supplementary receptacles 54. In general the supplementary arms 86 do not need to be adjusted laterally of the safety barrier 50 as most doors are of a standard width, and particuarly, if it is intended to mount the safety barrier in the same door as previously used. The over-centre lever 66 is then operated to urge the end of the pads 76 against the inner surfaces of the receptacles 52.If it is necessary to adjust the arm 64' to mount the barrier material 62 centrally of the opening, this adjustment may be made by operating the screw wheel 78 to cause the arm 64' to be extended. Similarly, if desired the supplementary arms 86 can be adjusted laterally of the safety barrier by operating the supplementary screw wheels 88. The safety barrier is thus mounted securely in position and cannot accidentally be dislodged without deliberately withdrawing the pads 76 from the receptacles 52. Similarly, the supplementary receptacles 54 restrain the movement of the pads 90. When desired to remove the safety barrier from its position in a doorway, the over-centre lever 66 is raised to release the pressure of the locating members 76 against the base portion of the receptacles 52. The safety barrier 50 may then be lifted vertically to withdraw the pads 76, 90 from their corresponding receptacles 52 and supplementary receptacles 54.

Claims (23)

1. A safety barrier assembly adapted to be releasably mounted between two vertical members defining an opening, comprising a safety barrier and two receptacles, one receptacle arranged to be mounted on each vertical member, the safety barrier including an upper support member having an arm component projecting laterally from each end, each arm component comprising a locating member, and at least one arm component being adjustable laterally of the safety barrier to mount the safety barrier in the opening, the assembly being arranged so that each receptacle is adapted to receive one locating member when the safety barrier is mounted in the opening.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein each laterally adjustable arm component is received co-axially within the upper support member.

3. An assembly according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein each laterally adjustable arm component has a screw-threaded exterior surface and is extendable laterally of the safety barrier under the operation of a. screw wheel having a complementary screw-threaded surface, which screw wheel is mounted coaxially on the arm component and located adjacent the end of the upper support member, the screw wheel being arranged so that a screwing action on the screw wheel urges the arm component to be extended outwardly of the safety barrier.

4. An assembly according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein each laterally adjustable arm component is operable by means of an over-centre lever.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each locating member comprises a resilient pad.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each receptacle comprises a base portion arranged to be secured to a vertical member and a retaining portion capable of retaining the locating member in the receptacle.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the retaining portion comprises a flange portion extending from the base portion.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the flange portion extends partially around the perimeter of the base portion.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein the flange portion is 'U'-shaped.

10. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the retaining portion comprises a solid portion including a groove terminating in a re cess adapted to retain the locating member in the receptacle.

11. An assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein each receptacle has a tapering entrance portion.

12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising two supplementary receptacles, one supplentary receptacle arranged to be mounted on each vertical member, and the safety barrier further including a lower support member having a supplementary arm component projecting laterally from each end, each supplementary arm component comprising a supplementary locating member, the assembly being arranged so that each supplementary receptacle is adopted to receive one supplementary locating member when the safety barrier is mounted in the opening.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein at least one supplementary arm component is adjustable laterally of the barrier to mount the safety barrier in the opening.

14. An assembly according to either one of claims 12 or 13 wherein each laterally adjustable arm component is received co-axially within the lower support member.

15. An assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein each supplementary locating member comprises a resilient pad.

16. An assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein each supplementary receptacle comprises a base portion arranged to be secured to a vertical member and a retaining portion capable of retaining the supplementary locating member in the supplementary receptacle.

17. As assembly according to claim 16 wherein the retaining portion comprises a flange portion extending from the base portion.

18. An assembly according to claim 17 wherein the flange portion extends partially around the perimeter of the base portion.

19. An assembly according to claim 18 wherein the flange portion is 'U'-shaped.

20. An assembly according to claim 16 wherein the retaining portion comprises a solid portion including a groove terminating in a recess adapted to retain the supplementary locating member in the supplementary receptacle.

21. An assembly according to any one of claims 16 to 20 wherein each supplementary receptacle has a tapering entrance portion.

22. An assembly according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the safety bar rier further comprises leg members arranged to rest on a horizontal surface.

23. An assembly substantially as herein described and as shown in the drawings.