Retractable safety net barricade

Abstract

A retractable safety barricade employed to block off an aisle or entryway, comprising a barricade housing that is mounted to a first support and a safety net attached at one end to a winding tube under spring tension located within the barricade housing and at the other to a pull bar, which may be secured to a second support. When the safety barricade is in its first position, the net is fully retracted onto the winding tube within the barricade housing by means of a coil spring. When the safety barricade is in its second position, the net is extended from housing to span the area between first and second supports, substantially covering the opening between the supports and blocking passage through the area. Operation of the device is performed by a single user, who manually extends or retracts the net barrier using the pull bar.

1 . A retractable safety barricade system, comprising: 
 (a) a net barrier means for preventing passage through a given area bounded by a first and second support means, said net barrier being elongated and having a first and second end;    (b) a rotatable shaft means to which said first end of said net barrier means is attached;    (c) mounting means for mounting said rotatable shaft means to said first support means;    (d) attaching means for attaching said second end of said net barrier means to said second support means;    (c) retraction means for retracting said net barrier means by radially winding said net barrier means upon said rotatable shaft means to permit passage through said area;    (d) extension means for extending said net barrier means to span the area between said first support means and said second support means.