Retractable barrier

Abstract

A retractable barrier ( 10 ) includes an elongate housing ( 12 ) having a first end ( 14 ), a second end ( 16 ), and a slotted opening ( 18 ) extending between the first end ( 14 ) and the second end ( 16 ). A substrate support ( 20 ) is rotatably mounted within the housing ( 12 ). A barrier substrate ( 22 ) is provided of a height substantially equal to a length of the slotted opening ( 18 ). The barrier substrate ( 22 ) has an attachment end ( 26 ) and a free end ( 24 ). The barrier substrate ( 22 ) is rolled onto the substrate support ( 20 ) with the attachment end ( 26 ) being attached to the substrate support ( 20 ) and the free end ( 24 ) extending through the slotted opening ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 ) to permit a selected quantity of the barrier substrate ( 22 ) to be extended from the housing ( 12 ). The barrier substrate ( 22 ) is configurable into non-linear configurations by the selectively attaching poles ( 28 ) where a change of direction occurs. A crank ( 32 ) is provided for rotating the substrate support ( 20 ), thereby retracting the barrier substrate ( 22 ) back into the housing ( 12 ).

1 . A retractable barrier ( 10 ), comprising: 
 an elongate housing ( 12 ) having a first end ( 14 ), a second end ( 16 ), and a slotted opening ( 18 ) extending between the first end ( 14 ) and the second end ( 16 );    a substrate support ( 20 ) rotatably mounted within the housing ( 12 );    a barrier substrate ( 22 ) of a height substantially equal to a length of the slotted opening ( 18 ), the barrier substrate ( 22 ) having an attachment end ( 26 ) and a free end ( 24 ), the barrier substrate ( 22 ) being rolled onto the substrate support ( 20 ) with the attachment end ( 26 ) being attached to the substrate support ( 20 ) and the free end ( 24 ) extending through the slotted opening ( 18 ) of the housing ( 12 );    several poles ( 28 ) being provided along with means to attach the poles at spaced intervals along the barrier substrate ( 22 ) in a supporting position, the barrier substrate ( 22 ) being configurable into non-linear configurations by the selectively attaching the poles ( 28 ) where a change of direction occurs, the means to attach the poles ( 28 ) to the barrier substrate ( 22 ) consisting of a plurality of pole receiving openings ( 30 ) through the barrier substrate ( 22 ); and    means being provided for rotating the substrate support, thereby retracting the barrier substrate ( 22 ) back into the housing ( 12 ).    
   
   
       2 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein means are provided to lock the substrate support in a selected rotational position with a selected quantity of barrier substrate ( 22 ) extended from the housing ( 12 ) and the housing ( 12 ) forming part of the barrier.  
   
   
       3 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 12 ) has a plurality of receptacles ( 38 ) adapted for storing the poles ( 28 ).  
   
   
       4 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 3 , wherein a first flange ( 34 ) is positioned at the first end ( 14 ) and a second flange ( 36 ) is positioned at the second end ( 16 ) of the housing ( 12 ), the receptacles ( 38 ) being positioned in the first flange ( 34 ) and the second flange ( 36 ).  
   
   
       5 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the substrate support ( 20 ) being a crank ( 32 ).  
   
   
       6 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier substrate ( 22 ) displays a message.  
   
   
       7 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 2 , wherein an end cap is fixed at the first end of the housing, the end cap having a plurality of receptacles spaced about a 360 degree circumference, a crank handle being provided on a crank mounting on the rotatable substrate support, the crank handle having an operative position and a locking position, in the locking position, a cam carried by the crank handle engages one of the receptacles on the end cap to non-rotatably fix the substrate support to the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has vertical pockets positioned at regular spaced intervals which are adapted to accommodate poles.  
   
   
       9 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each pole has a receptacle adapted to receive one of a lighting or signage support.  
   
   
       10 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a bottom cap with a threaded male member adapted to screw into a threaded female member of a weighted base.  
   
   
       11 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein tensioning clips are securable to each pole to tension the barrier substrate.  
   
   
       12 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 11 , wherein each tensioning clip is comprised of: 
 a body;    an open ended receptacle at the top of the body adapted to receive the top of a pole; and    a resilient clip adapted to receive the pole covered by the substrate.    
   
   
       13 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein two barrier substrates are joined by a joining clip.  
   
   
       14 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the joining clip comprises a body having an aperture at each end, where each aperture is adapted to join one of pole to pole, housing to housing or housing to pole.  
   
   
       15 . A method of erecting a barrier, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a housing sitting on a self supporting base with a retractable barrier substrate housed within the housing, the retractable barrier substrate having pole receiving openings at selected intervals along the substrate;    pulling a selected length of barrier substrate from the housing, locking the barrier substrate to the housing and laying the barrier substrate on a ground surface;    inserting poles having self supporting weighted bases in selected ones of the pole receiving pockets with the poles being left in a substantially horizontal position;    standing up a pole positioned farthest from the housing, the movement of standing up the pole creating a movement to a vertical position of the barrier substrate resulting in all of the poles standing in a vertical orientation.    
   
   
       16 . The retractable barrier as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier substrate is secure by less than four fasteners to a shaft.