Soft barrier

Inventors: Mark A. Flannery (Longboat Key, FL); Michael P. Lane (Chaska, MN)

Assignee: Regalo International, LLC

E06B9/0692 E06B9/06 E06B7/32 E06B2009/002

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12704020
App. No.: 18/973,100
Filed: Dec 8, 2024
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B1
Examiner: REPHANN, JUSTIN B
Art Unit: 3634
USPC: 160/351

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Abstract

The present soft barrier includes sheeting and a frame. The frame includes longitudinal and lateral support members. The sheeting is in a relaxed state when the lateral support members are in a retracted state. The sheeting is in a taut state when the lateral support members are in an extended fixed state. The sheeting may be in either the relaxed state or taut state when the longitudinal support members are in a retracted state or an extended state. A first adjustment mechanism for increasing or decreasing the longitudinal length of the barrier is a quick slide mechanism. A second adjustment mechanism for finely increasing or finely decreasing the longitudinal length of the barrier is a rotatable mechanism.

Claims (43)

1 . A soft barrier comprising:

a) a frame having first and second longitudinal support members, first and second lateral support members, and first, second, third, and fourth junctions, the first junction being between the first longitudinal support member and the first lateral support member, the second junction being between the first lateral support member and the second longitudinal support member, the third junction being between the second longitudinal support member and the second lateral support member, and the fourth junction being between the second lateral support member and the first longitudinal support member;

b) flexible sheeting engaged between the first and second longitudinal support members and between the first and second lateral support member;

c) the first junction being engaged to the first longitudinal support member and the first lateral support member, the second junction being engaged to the first lateral support member and the second longitudinal support member, the third junction being engaged to the second longitudinal support member and the second lateral support member, and the fourth junction being engaged to the second lateral support member and the first longitudinal support member;

d) the frame having a longitudinally fully extended state where a distance between the first and second lateral support members is maximized;

e) the frame having a longitudinally fully retracted state where the distance between the first and second lateral support members is minimized;

f) the frame being longitudinally extendable from the longitudinally fully retracted state to the longitudinally fully extended state, the frame being longitudinally retractable from the longitudinally fully extended state to the longitudinally fully retracted state;

g) the frame having a laterally fully retracted state where a first distance between the first and second longitudinal support members is minimized;

h) the frame having a laterally fixed extended state where a second distance between the first and second longitudinal support members is fixed;

i) the frame being laterally extendable from the laterally fully retracted state to the laterally fixed extended state, the frame being laterally retractable from the laterally fixed extended state to the laterally fully retracted state;

j) wherein the flexible sheeting defines a pet door opening that is spaced from an uppermost portion of the soft barrier, a right side portion of the soft barrier, and a left side portion of the soft barrier;

k) wherein a flap overlies the pet door opening;

l) wherein a quick connect closure apparatus engages a portion of the flap to the flexible sheeting; and

m) wherein the quick connect closure apparatus is operated by first and second finger handles disposed on opposite faces of the flexible sheeting so that the pet door is openable and closeable from either face of the soft barrier.

2 . The soft barrier of claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheeting includes a relaxed state when the frame is in the laterally fully retracted state, and wherein the flexible sheeting includes a taut state when the frame is in the laterally fixed state.

3 . The soft barrier of claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheeting bypasses each of the first, second, third, and fourth junctions to permit access to each of the first, second, third, and fourth junctions.

4 . The soft barrier of claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheeting includes first and second lateral sleeves for engaging the first and second lateral support members respectively, and wherein the flexible sheeting includes first and second longitudinal sleeves for engaging the first and second longitudinal support members respectively.

5 . The soft barrier of claim 1 , wherein the soft barrier defines a plane.

6 . The soft barrier of claim 1 :

a) wherein the longitudinal support members oppose each other with no support members, other than the first and second lateral support members, being engaged to and between the longitudinal support members; and

b) wherein the lateral support members oppose each other with no support members, other than the first and second longitudinal support members, being engaged to and between the lateral support members.

7 . A soft barrier comprising:

b) flexible sheeting engaged between the first and second longitudinal support members and between the first and second lateral support member;

d) the frame having a longitudinally fully extended state where a distance between the first and second lateral support members is maximized;

e) the frame having a longitudinally fully retracted state where the distance between the first and second lateral support members is minimized;

g) the frame having a laterally fully retracted state where a first distance between the first and second longitudinal support members is minimized;

h) the frame having a laterally fixed extended state where a second distance between the first and second longitudinal support members is fixed;

j) wherein the flexible sheeting includes an openable flap having a U-shape or C-shape and being openable and closeable by a quick connect closure disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the flap.

8 . A soft barrier comprising:

b) flexible sheeting engaged between the first and second longitudinal support members and between the first and second lateral support member;

d) the frame having a longitudinally fully extended state where a distance between the first and second lateral support members is maximized;

e) the frame having a longitudinally fully retracted state where the distance between the first and second lateral support members is minimized;

g) the frame having a laterally fully retracted state where a first distance between the first and second longitudinal support members is minimized;

h) the frame having a laterally fixed extended state where a second distance between the first and second longitudinal support members is fixed;

j) wherein the flexible sheeting includes an openable flap adjacent to a lowermost portion of the soft barrier, the openable flap having a bottommost portion with a flexible hinge such that the openable flap is configured to remain open by gravity where the flap extends to either of the faces of the soft barrier.